HARBOUR BOARD REPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13424, 26 October 1905, Page 11

HARBOUR BOARD REPORTS.

Tlip following- reports will be submitted to the Harbour Board at its meeting to-day: — Finance Committee.—ln tlie flatter of liio request of E. M. Steiitiford for a license for iiip oil launch Minn, it is recommended that a special committee be art up !o deal with this case r.nd others of a similar uature involving a rewioi of the by-lws. The Engineer reports as follows:—Dredging: Dredge '1.1:2 is engaged (Vq.ening Victoria channel between piles 23 and 24. a portion of the channel nlTccied by the late flood in the liEiiili. The cut- will be finished this week, when the dredge can commence work at the Pert Cliuhner* dock site. For a- few days at the end of tat month the dredge operated in the jiit at the end of Victoria, wharf and oil the contiguous bank, and filled G2 piuils, totalling about I4SS cubic yards wiih shingle r;sed in the formation of the slone wall. The screen worked satisfactorily, the punts being loaded with stones in about 30 minutes, the soft material and mud going into the hopper as usual. During tlie month of September flic lifted 20 'oads, totalling lo,Sll cubic yards, which, witli the exception of the above 14SS cubic yards, was deposited at the Vulcan ami pumped on to the flat at a total cost for wages, stores, and repairs ot about Is per cubic yard. Vulcan: Owing to the whole of the. Victoria wharf being required for shipping in the early part of the month the Vulcan was placed in her former position nt the em! of the wharf, the pit having been deepened and e'eared of stones by 222. The original spur wheel, which lias been working satisfactorily for some month?, has now given out, and been replaced by the spare gearing;. It is proposed to place thr vessel in, dock when the -222 gae.i to Port Chalmers and effect alterations to the criving gear, .which will reduce the risk oi breakages in the future. Priestman: the pontoon lies been cleared of the hopper fittings, boilers removed, floors lifted, and bilges cleaned o-ii. The hull is in fair condition, and it is Jiu pa-«l !o place her in dock when finished a-t Port Chalmers and have the hull cleaned, fomented, and painted. During the month of September 50 punts, totalling 1344 cubic yards, were filled and deposited on the (Fat at a total cost of about Is per cubic yard. Jetty sfre?t -wharf: The end portion is awaiting the coniplotiou of the new pile-driving derrick, tvhicli is nearly ready for work. Tlie W shed has been shitted back from the wharf 10ft. It is pioposed to fill in the front with clay and fitor.e tilling. Tlie portion of wharf frcm the efsforr. end of- the W shed io tongue wharf v."ill require a few new longitudinal beams and portion of decking removed. T'lio piles ate m good preservation, and it is proposed to continue (be ground beams of reinforced concrete as far as the tongue wharf. The estimated cost of reinstating this portion of tlw wharf is £'450. Retaining wall: Work is still being oontiinued on this wall. For the four weeks ending October 12, 1425 cubic yards were obtained from the foreshore at Frederick streetdeposited at a total cost of about 2s 2u per cubic yard. Heads works: The quany jetty lias been strengthened by an extra, row ,of piles. Tlie approach, which had subsided, has bc?n made good and rails relaid and crane pn*. iii working order.. A stnrt is to be made ■with laying the stone apron opposite the jetty to-day. The beacon to carry the new inner light is in course of construction. It is intended to remove the Tiuiaro lightship on the Ist prox. as notified, and placo ft temporary lifjlit on the new site until the permanent ■ ■ ■

light is installed. Two groins, Mmstruotcd of old reclamation discharge pipes and dredge buckets, have Icon placed on the north spit, around which the sand ia already banking up. Mole light: Tho green light was duly removed mid fhc new ocoulting light installed on the mole end as gazetted, and. is working up to expectations. The preliminary test of tho lump showed that it was capable of burning at full vigour tor 37 days without attention.' General: Two of the punts lying sunlr on the flat are under repair, their timbers having been found to be sound. The piles missing between Dunedin and I'or! Chalmers have nil been replaced. Repairs to the wharveß and sheds' have been duly attended to.